Church Happenings (112516)Plainview and Ola Methodist News Every Friday at Plainview Methodist there is an open Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous meeting at 7 p.m. On Sundays, Plainview and Waveland Methodist host their services at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. On Wednesdays, Plainview Methodist hosts a hand chime practice at 5 p.m., a potluck at 5:45 p.m. and Bible study at 6:30 p.m. Free Thanksgiving meal There will be a free Thanksgiving meal at 5 p.m. on Friday at the West S...

Finding peace in Christ JesusRomans 3:24 has a lot to say about what Christ accomplished for us on the cross, it says that being "justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus." First; the word justified means that through an act of God, He alone removed the guilt and the penalty of sin from my account and at the same time declared a sinner like me to be righteous through His son Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross. Because we are just...

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BY HAROLD O KOMPROODThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Community people: Andrew Thorson and Jewel SimcoxTHE COURIER / Submitted Speaking recently to the Russellville Downtown Rotary Club was Lt. Andrew Thorson (right) of the Salvation Army. He discussed the Red Kettle Campaign and how members of the club could help. Pictured with Thorson is Rotarian Jewel Simcox.

State, local police bolster traffic patrolArkansas State Police increased patrol state-wide and locally Monday to ensure Arkansans are obeying laws and buckling up. According to 2014 statistics, Thanksgiving holiday travel is typically one of the most dangerous and deadliest, citing 341 national fatalities from vehicular crashes alone, 50 percent of those deaths reportedly the result of no seat belts. "The numbers tell the story. Buckling up saves lives," said Colonel Bill Bryant, dir...

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BY SIERRA MURPHY
murphy@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Forestry officials to reopen trail after Arkansas wildfirePONCA — Forestry officials plan to reopen a popular hiking trail in the Arkansas Ozarks after a wildfire prompted its closure last week. U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman C.J. Norvell says the Hawksbill Crag Trail is expected to reopen Thursday. The trail — which leads to a scenic overlook that's one of the most photographed in Arkansas —was shut down because of a wildfire that began Nov. 12 about 13 miles south of Ponca. Forestry officials say ...

Woman's body identifiedThe body of a woman discovered over the weekend in Lake Dardanelle has been identified as a 27-year-old North Little Rock resident. Pope County Sheriff Shane Jones said Wednesday that the body has been identified as Angelique Hendricks. Hendricks' body was found about 2 p.m. Saturday by men fishing on the Illinois Bayou on Lake Dardanelle under the Interstate 40 bridge near Russellville. An autopsy by the state Crime Laboratory determined her ...

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COURIER STAFF REPORTSThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Classes conquer Contagious projectLiz Scott, a Russellville seventh-grade geography teacher, created an interactive cross-curricular activity for her students that includes geography, science, art, literacy and community engagement. Prior to creating the activity, Scott was accepted to the Arkansas Declaration of Learning national program. The program is a partnership between the Arkansas Department of Education, the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies and Crystal Bridges Museu...

Visioning exercise for El Paso shows layoutOn Nov. 3, representatives from Miller Boskus Lack and Velocity Group met in a public session for the revisioning event of El Paso Avenue. The purpose was to give the public another chance to voice their opinions and concerns for the future of the road. A representative from Velocity Group spoke about the plans they have created for El Paso that combined ideas they received from the #experienceelpaso, the Pop Up El Paso event, Arkansas Tech Un...

Rape lawsuit against University of Arkansas to proceedFAYETTEVILLE — A federal judge says a lawsuit alleging the University of Arkansas acted with deliberate indifference after a woman reported she was raped by another student will go forward. The lawsuit against the university was filed by a woman who told police and school officials that she'd been raped in her dorm in October 2014. The student told authorities that the encounter with the woman was consensual, and criminal charges were never fi...

Thanksgiving Day demands strain food banks in ArkansasLITTLE ROCK — An Arkansas food bank official says food banks often run short on food and donations during the holidays, a time when many low-income Arkansans families need assistance. The U.S. Department of Agriculture ranks Arkansas first in severe hunger and overall hunger, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported (http://bit.ly/2fJavV7 ). The National Foundation to End Senior Hunger ranks the state first in senior hunger and Feeding America r...

obituary: Rudy FacunRudy Facun, 70, of Russellville, formerly of San Jose, Philippines, died Tuesday, Nov. 22, at home. He was born Dec. 23, 1945, in Tarlac City, Philippines. He is survived by his wife, Carmalita Facun of Russellville; 12 children, including Genalyn Hickerson (Aaron) and Rechel Harrell (Jimmy), all of Russellville; 18 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016, at Humphrey Chapel with Pastors ...

Obituary: Beverly CarrDANVILLE — Beverly C. Carr, age 77, of Danville, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2016, at Arkansas Hospice River Valley Home in Russellville. She was born Dec. 26, 1938, in Los Angeles, Calif., to the late Opal and Jewell Madden Crowell. She was a mother and homemaker. She was preceded in death by her parents; step-dad, Jimmy Scott; and grandson, Dwight Vaughn. Survivors include husband, Charles Carr; daughter, Sredah (Hal) Vaughn of Danville;...

Obituary: Inez JamesDARDANELLE — Inez Grace Overcash James, 100 years old, entered into Heaven’s gates on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2016, from Cla-Cliff Nursing Home in Brinkley. She was born March 27, 1916, in Dardanelle to the late Christopher Columbus Grace and Effie Cleo Moore Grace. Inez was the third-oldest child of 15 children in the Grace family. Inez is survived by her three children and their families, Dr. Carl and Jane Overcash and children Mary Kathryn, Garre...

Obituary: Robert NorrisRobert Dallas Norris was born March 2, 1945, in Johnson City, Tenn., and died Nov. 22, 2016, in Clarksville, Ark, at the age of 71. He was retired from the United States Army and Clarksville Police Department and a member of Clarksville City Council. He is preceded in death by his parents, Rector Dana Norris and Myrtle Alice Smith Norris. He is survived by his wife, Tracy Parr Norris of Clarksville; three sons, Jeffrey Wayne Norris and wife, C...

Obituary: Carolyn ClemmonsCarolyn Warren Clemmons, 86, died Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016. She was born in Charleston, SC., on March 25, 1930. She was a registered nurse in the maternity ward and was the wife of a United Methodist Pastor, the late Reverend Frank R. Clemmons. She is survived by her three sons, David Clemmons (Cindy), Mark Clemmons (Renee) and John Clemmons (Meredith); six grandchildren: Susannah, Carly, Isaac, Bennett, Isabel and Claire Clemmons. Visitation wil...

Obituary: Donald Ray Best IIIDARDANELLE — Donald Ray Best III “Bubbs”, age 5 months, became an angel, on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016. He was born June 21, 2016, at Little Rock to Tameran Bagby and Donald Ray Best Jr. The family of baby Donald would like to thank each and every one of you for the prayers. We are so grateful for each of you. Although baby Donald was on this earth for a short time, we still thank God for blessing us with the time that he did. Please continue to ke...

Community people: Bill Eaton, Jessica Gunn, Staff Sgt. Thomas RootsTHE COURIER / Submitted Russellville Alderman, former mayor and Lion Bill Eaton (left) introduced Sgt. Jessica Gunn and Staff Sgt. Thomas Roots (right), both with Company "B" of the Arkansas Army National Guard, at a recent meeting. They talked about their roles in recruitment and retention for the Guard. Army National Guard units are in all 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia. Their primary role is to assist with local a...

Dream Center serves less fortunateLocal Russellville organizations have turned out to provide meals and company to friends and families that might have gone without either this year. Another organization, the Arkansas Dream Center (ADC), continues that spirit of giving. Since its establishment in 2009, the ADC has been working to "reach out to our communities, get families back on track to reaching their dreams," said Executive Director and Founder Drew Davis. "We work with ot...

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BY SIERRA MURPHY
murphy@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Russellville stores open Black FridayBY SIERRA MURPHY murphy@couriernews.com Nation wide chains are set to open as early as 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving night, but Russellville business owners will forgo early operation and maintain usual business hours on Black Friday. Coupled with sales and even weekend hours, citizens can enjoy their Thanksgiving meal as well as Black Friday sales. Kitchen Essentials in the City Mall, for example, will have sales on individual knives and knife sets....

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BY SIERRA MURPHY
murphy@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley